Adventures of a military officer turned artist turned program manager turned artist again ... wondering what he'll be when he grows up ...

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Packing Up

My studio is a mess, isn't it? I'm busy moving out. As mentioned in a previous post, I've put in for some really interesting jobs over the past couple of months, and based on the meetings in Washington two weeks ago, something will probably come through before long. I have no idea how long "before long" will be: it could be this afternoon, it could be in six weeks, who knows? But something will. And when it does, Janis and I are going to have to react very quickly. So it's better to close the studio down now, while there's plenty of time (?), rather than madly rushing around throwing everything into moving boxes or the dumpster.

I'm going to have a studio/yard sale this weekend, on Friday and Saturday, to sell off things that are too good to throw away but no longer of use to me. The past few days have been spent in digging through shelves, sorting, packing, and pitching things into the "sale" pile or the trash. I'm continually amazed at finding stuff that I forget was here, or at the amount of artworks that once were keepers. I've destroyed a lot of drawings and watercolors today that really aren't keepers. It's very cathartic, too. The thought process kinda goes like this: "oh, look at this one, it's not too bad .... well, yeah, but what are you gonna do with it? Would it ever sell? Would you ever frame it for your own house? No?" Then RRRRRIIIIIIIPPPP and it's torn in half and thrown into the paper trash bag. I haven't even started on the canvases yet. Gotta dig out my box cutter first.

I've advertised the studio/yard sale on the local artist listserv and the vultures are already circling. A few items have already been picked off: the tent is gone, some fold-up chairs, and a couple of folding easels. A couple of ladies came in today thinking that the studio will be vacated, but no, my studio partner Christine is staying, so the two ladies were very disappointed. I've even got some artworks at ridiculously marked-down giveaway prices with no takers so far. It's a sad state of affairs when a cheap frame is worth more than the labor of love that's inside it, but that's the way it goes. If you're an artist, get used to it!

Somebody asked if I was quitting my artwork. The answer is NO. I'm a painter, even if I have to be gainfully employed in some other field. For the short term, my garage will be my studio. Once we get settled wherever it is we move to (IF we move), then I'll have a studio again. So I'll continue to make artworks. Just not full-time, and not in this studio, anymore.

So now it's back to work. Two big rolls of bubble wrap are looking at me, as well as bunch of paintings that need to be packed up.

3 comments:

Dear Skip; I've been through the same thing before. So sorry you're having to do this. Wish there was some way to keep ALL of the work together and in good shape. And, I know that, perhaps, you'll have to be moving on out of Asheville for a more lucrative position, but I think I can speak for many, many people in saying that I wish you didn't have to go--you've meant a lot to many others by just being here, not to mention your great spirit and your wonderful pieces of art. God bless you and best of luck. Dianne

Wanted to wish you well in whatever it is you're going to be doing. Thank you for the opportunity to model.

If I could do a shameless plug, I started a group on Meetup a couple of months ago: Asheville-WNC Figure Drawing Group. The concept was to have figure drawing sessions in studios or homes, similar to Charleston's group, to help artists and models enhance their talents.

Skip, I'm so glad I ran into you yesterday! Will really miss you. Just gotten used to having you back!

A friend, well, okay, acquaintance, of mine up nawth who was actually successful enough to earn a full-time living from painting used to leave discards at bus stops, stripped of signature etc. The thought was that it gave original art to people who would not otherwise have it and that what might not have been gallery-ready was still better than cutting out pix from magazines! Just a thought!